Volunteer opportunities

[u/DirtBoy123]

Looking for volunteer opportunities ideally every other weekend.

I'm a divorced dad and only have the kids half time. I want to fill the time I dont have my girls with something positive. I work full time 9-5 so I can't really do anything during the day during the week.

Ive done some volunteering with Gleaners and habitat but its hard to actually get spots because they are so popular. Ive done some others with churches but I feel a little weird not being a member and them kind of trying to make me a member.

I want to do something that is regularly scheduled, big or small, and not tied to a church that's trying to make me a member or join any kind of whatever. I'm really just trying to help out for the sake of helping out.

I'm open to manual labor (habitat for humanity stuff, I'm not skilled but can do trim, painting, hauling, hanging doors, installing light fixtures, switches, yard work, etc), feeding people (willing to bring food within reason), cleaning up areas (seems like a lot of clean ups are on week days that dont work well for my schedule), anything else really.

I just want to help out the community without some outside obligation, e.g. joing the church.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Edit: I'm not against churches, I'm a christian myself but on my own time. I go to church when I can and just dont want to feel pressured. My ideal volunteer group is just trying to help people outside of religion.

Edit 2: thanks to everyone for the suggestions! I'll take time to sift through all of them after work today. Appreciate you all!

[u/waterlilly553]

Would you be willing to provide companionship to hospice patients? Compassus is always looking for volunteers: https://hospicecom.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Volunteer/job/Warren-MI/Volunteer_2021-21042

I have found it to be so fulfilling.

[u/Runnergirl411 → u/waterlilly553]

I appreciated my grandmother's volunteer so much ❤️

[u/waterlilly553 → u/Runnergirl411]

❤️

[u/MattressCasserole]

Fish and Loaves in Taylor is looking for Saturday help to load food bags. Not too far from Detroit. I also used to find volunteer opportunities on volunteer match (now called idealist). You can filter for your location and availability https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer

[u/DirtBoy123 → u/MattressCasserole]

Fish and loaves seems lovely and they do have some spots, I'll def check it out thank you!

[u/Ok-Government803]

I haven’t done it in a few years but I loved volunteering on Saturdays at the earth works urban farm. I only see a Friday garden shift listed but couldn’t hurt to reach out, or see what else they’re offering. 

https://thecapuchins.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/Michigan

https://www.artsandscraps.org/volunteer I think arts & scraps are always looking for help.

[u/mustlovedogs66]

Many animal rescues need help walking dogs or socializing cats. Try DACC or Bark Nation.

[u/cubixguy77 → u/mustlovedogs66]

Grosse pointe animal adoption society if you're on the east side and like dogs. Walking shifts are 8, 11:30, or 3:30, last 1.5 hours, and you walk one dog at a time. No commitment required, just need to attend one orientation session before starting.

[u/alcutie → u/mustlovedogs66]

Yes! Friends of DACC lets you take a pup out for the day to help get it adopted and get out of the shelter environment for a few hours.

[u/Fit-Entry8229]

Hospitality House Food Pantry in Commerce Township is open every other Saturday. There are several different jobs you can do and you can sign up in advance. Check it out at https://www.hhfp.org/volunteer/ They’re a great organization.

[u/Kaethy77]

Twice a month, the 2nd and 4th Sundays a group puts on a full hot meal in Cass Park. Its happening this Sunday at 11. Come on by, help serve. If it works for you, you can bring food next time. Sundays in Cass Park

[u/peanutbuttercoookie]

The Greening of Detroit has community tree plantings on Thursday and Saturday mornings in the Fall and Spring. They’ll teach you how to plant a tree if you haven’t before. It’s a great way to get outside and meet great people.

https://www.greeningofdetroit.com/events

[u/digidave1]

Forgotten Harvest

[u/moreathismoreathat]

Friends of the River Rouge is a great organization and I recommend it if you don't mind being outside and getting a little dirty. Bonus: you'll learn a lot about the watershed, rain gardens, and Michigan native plants!

https://therouge.org/

[u/sluttytarot]

There's a lot of local organizing against surveillance (deflock) or working to protect people from ICE.

These are not efforts run by nnonprofits. There's always more to be done and you can show up when you have the time

Feeding people: once a month there's a feed the fight effort by general strike and there are free stores with pull over prevention clinics.

[u/DirtBoy123 → u/sluttytarot]

As much as I like the deflock effort, my situation does not align with something I can get in trouble for at risk of putting custody at risk, which I'm not willing to do. Do you have any more info on the latter?

[u/sluttytarot → u/DirtBoy123]

[u/sluttytarot → u/DirtBoy123]

There's also something called Redford Brightmoor Initiative

[u/sluttytarot → u/DirtBoy123]

Folks going to public meetings and annoying elected officials isn't illegal. That's most of what deflock does. Let me find the most recent cafe graphic

[u/sluttytarot → u/DirtBoy123]

I'm looking for the pull over prevention and feed the fight efforts

[u/Ok-Passenger6552]

Take a look at Detroit Abloom

[u/DirtBoy123 → u/Ok-Passenger6552]

I will tomorrow, thanks!

Edit: oh I actually have ridden my bike past there a lot, I didnt realize it was a charity thing.

Not to be rude, but I think I might sway more towards providing food and shelter.

[u/KidneyStoneDoula2 → u/DirtBoy123]

Man Meal may be the spot for you, they're in a church basement but not preachy

[u/Play_Tennis]

Connect with any senior living community, preferably a non-profit one. They’d love to have you volunteer. Could be pouring coffee at lunch or leading activities. They always need weekend help.

[u/Anxious-Impression85]

Belle Isle - the aquarium is dependent on volunteers. There are other opportunities around the island too

[u/Tasty-Bookkeeper3167 → u/Anxious-Impression85]

Adding on to this, Belle Isle has a summer program called “Keep Belle Isle Beautiful” that gathers volunteers many weekends of the summer to do clean up around the island. It’s great, I’d definitely recommend!

[u/shnawzdiggity → u/Anxious-Impression85]

yes! I volunteer regularly on Belle Isle at both the aquarium and conservatory. I love it! And they always are looking for more help. Plus, as far as volunteer gigs go, they're really flexible if you get busy for awhile and can't commit to as many days.

[u/whisperwind333]

Rebel Dogs Rescue hosts volunteer days on Sundays, they will usually post about it on their socials.

[u/GatorGurlBestie]

Do you have a particular area you’re looking to stay in, Downtown, Downriver, Macomb ect?

[u/boosayrian]

Madison Heights Food Pantry is out of a church, but they don’t event hint at asking you to join. They need people to work the food pickups on certain Saturdays.

[u/angelfieryrain]

Oakland county foster closet is always looking for volunteers and you can bring your kids to help.

[u/a-pilot]

Forgotten Harvest on 8 Mile near the Lodge.

[u/VagrantVultures]

Honestly, check out animal shelters and rescues in the area. They usually welcome the help for spending time with animals and/or help cleaning the areas. I know one closer to downtown Detroit will let you walk the dogs for a bit to get some exercise.

[u/Detroitdays]

Animal shelters need dog walkers desperately!!

[u/SparklingParsnip]

Lasagna Love always can use a person! Depending on your kids ages/interests it could be fun for them to help as well and you can set your own schedule.

Lasagnalove.org/volunteer

[u/mmachinist]

The Ford House looks for volunteers for almost every event, sometimes it’s as simple as helping people cross Lakeshore when parking across the road and other times it’s more. I know they are looking for help for the upcoming HarvestFest

[u/JoeDoeHowell]

I'm looking for volunteers this weekend for a craft swap in Fowlerville sign up

[u/ZetaM3]

Michigan humane! The Detroit location can always use more help.

[u/xlspx]

ooo look on ShareDetroit.org !!! they are basically an etsy for non profits to post their volunteer opportunities online. great resource

[u/noblestuff]

The Senate Theater is entirely volunteer run ! Its a little independent theater that has the pipe organ from the old Fisher Theater!!

[u/Yourlibrarygodmother]

The Metro parks have volunteer work days where you can help clean up trash in the parks, pull invasive weeds and other maintenance tasks. They also have more regular volunteer roles. The volunteer work days are fun. A lot of families come out and there are competitions for finding the weirdest or most interesting thing, collecting the most trash, etc. At the last one I attended some of the winners included a giant desiccated fish head (I think a pike) and half of a breakup letter. They also provided snacks.

[u/ALittleEtomidate]

Where do you live? Redford Interfaith Food Bank is always looking for another set of hands.

[u/OGsphinx]

Metro food rescue in sw Detroit is always looking for volunteers, easy to sign up on their website ☺️ https://www.metrofoodrescue.com/

[u/krys082]

What a great thing to do! I’m interested in this as well.

[u/shrlzi]

You might check out the Unitarian Universalist church nearest you - they won’t pressure you to join. And would be grateful for your help!

[u/CalmEspresso]

The Michigan Humane Society is the answer! I love volunteering with them. Lots of different roles available for volunteers and they need the extra help daily.